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The project : Develop a device that stretches the deep gluteal muscles improving hip movement and addressing sciatic pain.
Our mission : To transform the initial idea into the most suitable industrial product and support the inventor in bringing the project to market completion.
Thomas SÉRAFIN is a sports physiotherapist. He uses a unique compression technique along the femur’s axis, effectively treating sciatica in many patients, especially athletes. This involves applying substantial pressure to the patient’s knee with his torso, which is both difficult and tiring.
The project, therefore, involved mechanically reproducing this technique while ensuring the practitioner retains full flexibility in action and patient positioning.
This innovation has been patented, with ownership shared between Seraf Pro and The Use Factory.
The initial phase of this project was to understand the anatomical effects of the technique: What anatomical changes does this compression cause? Why do patients experience relief? What parameters achieve this effect (range of force, angles, etc.)? These elements form the basis of our preliminary specifications.
Identification et prototypage des concepts clés permettant de manipuler les solutions en 3D
The quality of intellectual protection is crucial for safeguarding the inventor’s ownership. The foundations of a patent were swiftly established, and drafting work commenced with a patent firm.
Our role as designers is essential in working with the firm to shape the drafting and ensure a well-rounded patent filing.
By swiftly drafting and filing the patent, we can safely discuss the invention with peers and investors without risking its exclusivity.
Designing a Demonstrator to Test Lightback in Real-Life Conditions
Feedback from patients and practitioners helps gauge the product’s effectiveness, its appeal to practitioners, and potential for different applications. Lightback has been trialled with footballers, handball players, and basketball players, as well as in clinics, physio practices, and sports clubs. Working with end-users also helps envision everyday use (storage, transport, care) and factor in these needs.
In parallel, discussions about therapeutic and performance benefits help assess the value the product brings. This allows for estimating a price point and understanding the industrial resources needed for manufacturing.
The valuable lessons from early prototypes and user tests allow us to move forward with confidence in the industrial development phase.
The product’s design, in itself, poses a significant challenge. How can we meet the numerous and complex technical, functional, and mechanical requirements while ensuring flawless ergonomics and user intuitiveness? Not to forget, the product’s aesthetic quality and material choices must enhance its perceived value. A meticulous selection of technologies and materials has been made to achieve an elegant and appealing
It’s also entirely made in France! Thanks to the close collaboration and commitment of our industrial partners, we’ve been able to address the crucial need for responsiveness that a start-up requires.
“With your expertise in crafting innovative products, you identified the strengths and weaknesses of my idea and quickly assessed its feasibility. The Use Factory has brought LightBack® to life, expanding my idea’s clinical and commercial potential.”
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